The Waldorf School
of Santa Barbara

A Gentle Beginning
In the Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, imaginative play is the most essential activity. The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara’s programs for the young child were developed with two basic tenets: that the child, before the age of seven, learns through imitation; and that play is the work of the young child. With these as a foundation, we create an environment worthy of a child’s imitation, in which the child feels secure enough to explore the many possibilities for creative free play. Teachers strive to understand each child’s uniqueness and work toward achieving a healthy balance of large and small motor skills, social skills, and appreciation of one another and the world around them.

Soft colors, fresh flowers, and natural toys welcome younger students to the kindergarten classroom. An atmosphere of warmth and calm sets the stage for rhythmical cycle of activities, including:

Storytelling
– to stimulate visualization, vocabulary, and memory.
Free Play and Drama
– to ignite imagination and social relationships.
Counting Games
– to develop an awareness of numbers
Artistic Activities
– to explore color and motivate expression
Outdoor Play and Walks
– to foster an appreciation of nature.

Here, children develop the curiosity, verbal capacities, social skills, and motor skills that are essential for later learning.

We currently offer Early Childhood classes at three levels:

Morning Rose Nursery:
Ages 2 to 3.5
Lavender Rose Pre-Kindergarten:
Ages 3.5 to 5
White Rose Kindergarten:
Ages 4.9 to 6




Families are the promise of tomorrow.
A parent’s love imparts to the child a way of meeting the world. The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara’s Parent-Child Circle fosters a community of warmth and support for parents, and an atmosphere of joy and respect for young children between the ages of one and three.

Each week, we strive to gain an understanding of child development and discover sources of inspiration for life at home. Special attention is given to supporting the unfolding of your child’s interests, motor skills, social interaction and problem solving skills. Parents are treated to handwork projects with natural materials and are supported in creating a nurturing play environment for their children. Lap games, nursery rhymes, songs and puppet tales are part of the morning. Children will delight in kneading bread dough for our freshly baked snack.

    

"The advent of the Waldorf Schools was in my opinion the greatest contribution to world peace and understanding in this Century”
-Willy Brandt
Nobel Peace Prize Winner


Main Campus:
401 N. Fairview Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117

Early Childhood Campus:
5679 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 788, Goleta, CA 93116

Phone: 805.967.6656
Fax: 805.696.6228